Gentleman Jack and The Ladies of Llangollen
Anne Lister (1791–1840), now known as ‘the first modern lesbian’, visited Sarah Ponsonby on her travels through North Wales in 1822. She was an enthusiastic traveller, and recorded much of her experience at Plas Newydd as part of her daily diary.
The Ladies of Llangollen feature heavily in the very first research and influence boards for BBC / HBO drama Gentleman Jack. Set in 1832 West Yorkshire, Gentleman Jack is inspired by the true-story and coded journals of Anne Lister (played by Suranne Jones), and follows her attempt to revitalize her inherited home, Shibden Hall.
Tom Pye, costume designer for the series, was particularly influenced by the Ladies of Llangollen when designing the spectacular costumes for Suranne Jones. He states: “My research into Anne Lister told me she wore a small black soft cap, probably created with velvet.
"I tried a few shapes along these lines, but it didn’t seem to be able to convey an understanding to a modern audience of the power or status that could be achieved with a top hat.
"I was particularly influenced by the Ladies of Llangollen, Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby. Like Anne, they also wore all black, and they wore top hats.
"There’s no mention of a top hat by Anne in her diary, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t own one.”
You can view Anne Lister’s journal entries, alongside copies of the initial costume sketches and idea boards, seven days a week at Plas Newydd Historic House, Llangollen.
A Denbighshire chef has been busy introducing Japan to the delights of Welsh cuisine
A Denbighshire chef has been busy introducing Japan to the delights of Welsh cuisine.
Steve Thomas, who runs the tea rooms at Plas Newydd museum in Llangollen, is being featured in a Japanese TV travel programme about Wales.
“It’s a long running show which over the years has filmed across the world,” explained Steve.
“With the Rugby World Cup being hosted by Japan this September they have been filming attractions in Wales and one of the things they wanted to include was our traditional food.”
The TV crew was interviewing people at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod when they were told a visit to see Steve at work in the Plas Newydd kitchens would be highly recommended.
“They phoned up to ask if they could come over here. We made them welcome and I presented two dishes. One was lamb cawl and the other was chicken with leeks in a tarragon sauce,” said Steve.
“The crew tried them both and were most enthusiastic, the meals went down well. So much so that afterwards they even bought scones and Welsh cakes to tuck into for the journey back.”
July has proved to be packed full of activities for Plas Newydd. One of the major events was acting as the host venue for the launch of a mobile phone app promoting the Welsh language and heritage to hikers and walkers. It works by highlighting the original place names and area’s history to the devices’ owners.
Plas Newydd was delighted to be one of the sites used by the ever-popular Llangollen Fringe Festival to perform a laughter-filled production.
The museum’s picturesque grounds were also the backdrop for a special artistic day entitled The Big Draw – where budding artists could come together as a group and commit the beautiful landscape to paper.
Plas Newydd are offering 10 Things To Do In The Dee Valley. The project celebrates the 10th anniversary of the inscription of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal as a World Heritage Site and is designed to give families plenty to do as they enjoy getting out and about.
Participants are able to take part in a fresh challenge at each host destination. At Plas they can tackle a meticulously-laid trail, using just a special map for clues as they track down a series of objects placed throughout the grounds.
And there’s been a great response to an environmentally friendly initiative at Plas. The site has started to grow its own plants in a specially built poly-tunnel using organic peat-free compost.
Some of the plants are to be used in the grounds to increase the flowering period with others being made available for sale to the public.
“There are been a great deal of interest in this, which is very pleasing,” said Plas Newydd gardener Neil Rowlands.
Landscapes for Life Week 21 – 29 September 2019 #♥L4L
The Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB will be joining all of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales & England to celebrate ‘Landscapes for Life Week #♥L4L.
We call it Landscapes for Life Week, because we’re committed to our iconic national landscapes forever. And those landscapes are so much more than a view – they are landscapes for living. They are a place for nature – which AONB partnerships are actively working to conserve and enhance. They are a place for industry – they are the living, breathing factory floor of our British food industry. They are a place of tranquillity, rootedness and wellbeing, treasured by generations of people seeking peace, exercise and leisure; truly our Natural Health Service.
Landscapes for Life Week is the AONB Family’s week (and a bit) long programme of events to help people reconnect with nature by enjoying and being inspired by the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). This year it takes place from Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th September 2019.
Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB are contributing four events to celebrate the week.
During the week follow us on Twitter @Clwyd_Dee_AONB #♥L4L; Facebook @clwydianrangeanddeevalley, @naaonb @AONBFamily #NaturalHealthService